Forest-Namseok

Chapter 4

On the first half of this chapter I describe the feelings of Namjoon's parents. If you feel uncomfortable reading that please skip to the next half of it.

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The days came and past. The town had buried deep down the incident. But... What did they know exactly? Well not about Namjoon's rape. They didn't even know he was there. His presence on the sight got buried and the murder of the boys was excused saying they provoked a stray wolf.

Not a lie.

For few days the mayor send some hunters to search the forest for a wolf pack but since they found nothing... They didn't bother any further. You may be wondering who found our boy... Don't worry. His parents carried him from the forest back home in secrecy and took care of his wounds. It was heartbreaking for them. They had to stop many times and exit the room while they treated their sons penetrated entrance.

What could they do? They had to wash him down there and disinfect the area. They couldn't leave it full of mud, blood and semen. They preferred to do it themselves rather than Namjoon. They didn't want him to see how badly the other boys had injured him, even after they managed to clean him they wept as they saw the continues blood dripping out of their boy's privates. They had left his legs open so that he won't get irritated by friction and to allow the disinfectants to dry up. What a devastating sight it must be... To see the boy you love and raised... Your son... Raped. Wounded. Broken...

Oh the tears they've shed and the pain they felt for their boy. How useless they felt for not being able to protect their son when they had to. However, when Namjoon woke up they realised that what was done was done. Their boy needed them more than anyone or anything.

For the next years to come they stood together like a family. Close and loving. They never once blamed one another for what happened because they all wanted to move on. However, after Namjoon's request they signed up for psychotherapy. Constant nightmares and paranoia reigned the young boy's days. They faced the fact they needed help and asked for it.

Days became months and months added up and became years. Namjoon became a calm, collected and reserved young adult. He decided to take online college courses rather than going to a physical one. He was still afraid of people even if his psychologist had helped him overcome his issues. Mrs Indé retired leaving the shop to Namjoon, something he was grateful for. In the morning he was at the shop, laptop in bag, doing his assignments and handling the shop while in the evening he was busy attending his video courses or hanging out with his parents and Mrs Indé.

He didn't have any friends his age. All the kids in town hated him or avoided him thanks to that picnic day. If they wanted something from the bookstore they would talk to him but still... They were reluctant and definitely not taking him to the club with them. Not that Namjoon cared.

Lately, he found an unexpected friend. Every noon when he had to close the shop he'll stay behind sitting on the backdoor porched. He would look around and fill a metal bowl with some lamb pieces and wait. Soon a brown wolf cub would emerge from the bushes and whine at Namjoon's direction. Same as today.

"Hello little cutey" he cooed and opened his arms wide open. Immediately the cub would storm off the plantation and fall onto the boys arms. It was not that small of a cub. In reality the "cub" was a young full fledged wolf, with a strong body and a soft brown fur, for Namjoon it will always be a cub though thanks to its playfull behaviour.

"I missed you puppy! I brought some lamb for you! Are you hungry?? Do you wanna cuddle?" he asked as he hugged the wolf and rubbed his belly.

People would think he is insane for getting this close to a wolf. They would say the wolf is a ticking time bomb and will eat his face on first try. But he didn't care. He loved the wolf's company. The wolf did not frighten the boy after that day Namjoon came to have a fashination for the four legged creature and want to be around it.

After the wolf ate he layed between the humans spread legs with his big head ontop of the boys abdomen and thigh. Much like a dog he closed his eyes at Namjoon's large hand that stroked his belly and scratched behind his ears. Moments like this the human enjoyed and cherished. Staring at the wolf foldly he hummed soflty a melody that seemed to be of liking to the wolf since he flinched his ears and the corners of his mouth turned up to a strange smile making Namjoon smile too.

This was his every day. He loved it. He didn't remember how he met this wolf, he first appeared near him a little while after the Incident. Namjoon instantly felt a connection with it and soon this became a routine for the two of them

"You sure grew bigger little cub" he cooed and pat the wolfs belly. The wolf growled softly indicating he knew it.

"You're always gonna be my friend right?" Namjoon's arms remained in the wolf's fur as the creature looked up and locked it's brown eyes with Namjoon's. Namjoon could swear they looked oddly human for a second.

Was it his imagination?